🔗 Share this article Jeff Bezos' Space Firm's Second Rocket Launch Postponed Because of Inclement Atmospheric Situation The aerospace company, founded by billionaire Jeff Bezos, was forced to delay the highly anticipated liftoff of its New Glenn rocket on Sunday because of adverse weather factors at the Florida launch site. Mission Postponement Reasons Rainfall and a technical problem on the ground caused early setbacks, followed by thick clouds as the narrow time frame for launch closed, leaving managers to reschedule the vehicle's upcoming flight. Rivalry between Bezos' firm and Musk's space company has been heating up in recent months. Rescheduled Attempt To relieve airspace congestion during the government funding gap, the Federal Aviation Administration is restricting commercial rocket liftoffs from Monday. Following the cancellation of the mission, the company said on Sunday evening that, in coordination with the FAA, it was aiming for another attempt as soon as midweek within a window of afternoon hours Eastern Standard time. Mission Objectives Upon successful liftoff, the 322-foot tall launch vehicle will transport the US space agency's Escapade twin spacecraft to Mars, to study the Martian atmospheric past with the long-term goal of human exploration. The mission will also act as a crucial trial of its ability to perform booster recovery, which would prove a technical breakthrough for the firm if accomplished. Earlier Mission The rocket's first launch in January was considered a achievement, as its payload achieved orbit and successfully performed tests. But its main rocket section, which was meant to be reusable, did not stick its touchdown on a platform in the ocean, and ended up destroyed during the return phase. Landing Attempts In its second effort the launch provider will try once more to land the booster stage. Until now, only SpaceX has managed that accomplishment. Space Race Rival firms of tycoons Bezos and Musk are locked in a commercial space race that has grown more intense lately, as the space agency began accepting proposals for its lunar exploration program, noting that SpaceX was falling behind schedule. Donald Trump’s second term has involved the government push the agency to accelerate its progress to launch astronauts to the lunar surface in competition against the Asian nation. More rivalry between SpaceX and Blue Origin could “expand our options with regard to liftoff.” “More launches means greater innovation in space,” an ex-agency official stated. “It can’t be a negative to have the competitor, even not in the lead.”